MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY AUGUST 26, 2019 AT 6:00 P.M. IN THE BENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 1403 SOUTH MAIN STREET BENTON, ILLINOIS.
MAYOR KONDRITZ CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ WERE PRESENT FOR ROLL CALL.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO BE MADE ON THE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF AUGUST 12, 2019. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO HIRE ROBERT “JIMMY” WELLS FOR THE POSITION OF WATER DEPARTMENT MAINTENANCE WITH A START DATE OF 08/27/2019. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT AMENDING THE TERMINATION DATE OF FREE TRASH SERVICES TO THE CIVIC CENTER, KIWANIS HALL, CITY PARK, BENTON LIBRARY, AND CHURCHES. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT HE WANTED TO GIVE THESE ENTITIES MORE TIME TO GET THEIR BUDGETS PREPARED FOR THIS. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE DID NOT FEEL THIS WAS A COST THE CITY COULD AFFORD TO CONTINUE TO INCUR. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA ALSO STATED THAT SHE WAS PERSONALLY THANKED BY THE BENTON PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR THE CITY PROVIDING TRASH AS LONG AS THEY HAD. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN ON THIS ITEM.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #001994 TO NOVACOM, DUNAGAN’S COLLISION, GPS CITY, AND THIN LINE PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,000.00 TO EQUIP THE TWO NEW 2019 FORD TAURUS SQUAD CARS INCLUDING STRIPING AND INSTALLATION COSTS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY PRESENTED PURCHASE ORDER #001142 TO LEO ELLEBRACHT COMPANY FOR ONE SET OF MORNING PRIDE BUNKER GEAR TO REPLACE AN EXPIRED SET IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,136.00. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #001143 TO MID-AMERICA FIRE AND SAFETY IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,532.58 FOR ONE SET OF BUNKER GEAR TO REPLACE EXPIRED GEAR. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #001141 TO OSCAR’S SERVICE FOR AN ICE MACHINE FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT FOR MICHAEL ANDREWS AS THE POLICE CHIEF TO BEGIN ON AUGUST 22, 2019 FOR FOUR (4) YEARS AT A STARTING PAY OF $70,000.00 WITH A $5,000.00 STIPEND FOR FORENSICS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #COB1 TO CONCEPTE OF ILLINOIS FOR A BLOCK OF 50 HOURS FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER #00080 GREENLEAF LANDSCAPING FOR LANDSCAPING AT CITY HALL IN THE AMOUNT OF$465.00.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR 08/23/2019 FOR GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $66,769.70, FOR THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $32,695.72, AND AIRPORT CARETAKER IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,100.00 FOR A TOTAL OF $100,565.42. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE SEWER ADJUSTMENTS FOR DAVE CLARK OF 11228 STATE HIGHWAY 37, SCOTT CAMERON OF 1106SOUTH LICKLITER (LOT 30), AND CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON OF 90 NORTH FAIRLAND AS THEY ALL MEET THE CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THE ORDINANCE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO DENY ADJUSTMENT FOR CONNIE KEY OF 210 WEST PARK AND WILLIAM WYSONG OF 212 NORTH MAPLE STREET AS THEY DO NOT MEET THE CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THE ORDINANCE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 1. COMMISSIONER STOREY. ABSTAIN: 1. COMMISSIONER PERKINS.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION #19-13 RELATING TO PARTICIPATION BY ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL RETIREMENT FUND. MOTION WAS SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WAS SADDENED TO HEAR ABOUT THE SHOOTING OF AN ILLINOIS STATE POLICEMAN THIS PAST WEEK. HE STATED THAT HE CONSTANTLY WORRIES ABOUT THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF BENTON.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT THERE WILL BE A CENSUS IN 2020. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO APPOINT A POINT PERSON FOR THE CITY’S INVOLVEMENT IN THE 2020 CENSUS. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT RACHEL GARTNER TO THIS POSITION. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPOINT RACHEL GARTNER AS THE CITY OF BENTON’S POINT PERSON FOR THE 2020 CENSUS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
UNDER OLD BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE ALL THE COMMISSIONERS TO KEEP UP WITH THE CHECKS AND BALANCES FOR THE CITY OF BENTON. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO ASK EACH COMMISSIONER CHECK ALL BILLS EACH MONTH.
NO NEW BUSINESS.
IN MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, TOM CARTER ASKED WHY IF THE WATER DEPARTMENT COULD USE $1.2 MILLION FROM THE SEWER FUND, WHY THEY ARE DOING WORK AT THE AIRPORT AND NOT CHARGING THE AIRPORT? JULIE PAYNE HUBLER ASKED HOW LONG THE CONTRACT FOR THE POLICE CHIEF IS. CINDY BRITTON ASKED COMMISSIONER PERKINS HOW MANY PEOPLE APPLIED FOR THE NEW MAINTENANCE POSITION. COMMISSIONER PERKINS STATED THAT FOUR OR FIVE PEOPLE HAD APPLIED IN ADDITION TO THE CLOSE TO 40 THAT APPLIED WITH THE FIRST OPEN POSITION THIS SUMMER. MRS. BRITTON ASKED WHO ALL WERE INTERVIEWED. COMMISSIONER PERKINS STATED THAT HE USED THE INTERVIEWS FROM THE FIRST POSITION TO FILL THIS POSITION.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
6:45 P.M.
